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close this bookBetter Farming Series 02 - The Plant: the Stem; the Buds; the Leaves (FAO - INADES, 1976, 30 p.)
close this folderThe leaves
close this folderWhat are leaves for?
View the document(introduction...)
View the documentHow the leaf changes raw sap into elaborated sap
View the documentOrganic matter in the plant
View the documentThe plant breathes.
View the documentThe plant transpires.

Organic matter in the plant

The plant gets water and mineral salts from the soil.
This is inorganic matter.
This inorganic matter is changed by light and carbon and becomes elaborated sap.
The elaborated sap feeds the plant.
Just as blood enables a man to make his muscles, hair, bones, so elaborated sap enables a plant to make leaves, wood, fruits. The leaves, the wood, the fruits are organic matter.

Inorganic matter has become organic matter.